The current state of our mental health is stark: In the U.S., 21% of adults — 50 million of us — are experiencing a mental illness. And 55% currently receive no treatment. Knowing these surprising facts will hopefully help to dispel longstanding stigmas around mental health challenges. Let’s look at three recent studies to see how therapeutic massage can play an important role in relieving mental health symptoms.
Anxiety research
All of us feel anxious sometimes — it’s our body’s way of telling us to be on alert. Some people can harness these energetic feelings for positive action, by identifying the sensation as “excited” instead of “anxious.” An anxiety disorder is anxiety that won’t stop, even when we no longer need to be on alert. Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental illnesses in America, with more than 42 million of us suffering.
A 2016 study “found profound changes associated with massage in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder [and] also saw major changes in anger hostility measures and major decreases in fatigue.” A previous study found that twice-weekly Swedish massage bolstered the body’s oxytocin production and reduced cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone that puts the body in fight-or-flight mode. To heal, we instead need to activate our parasympathetic nervous system.
Depression research
In our previous article on pregnancy massage, we looked at how massage therapy can help with some of the common physical challenges of pregnancy, including depression. Studies have found that massage therapy can be an effective way to treat prenatal depression. In addition, studies on breast cancer patients link massage with reduced levels of depression.
““A one-hour massage lowers cortisol in your body while also releasing serotonin. This hormone neurotransmitter is sometimes called the “happy chemical” because it reduces feelings of depression and carries signals between nerves and your body.””
Thinking holistically
Definitely talk to a therapist if you have serious mental health issues. Often people don’t realize that after a traumatic event like a car accident, seeing a mental health professional might be essential to your recovery. Massage and other body-centered treatments can play a key part in conjunction with professional mental health counseling.
Come visit us at Parkside
Come see our expert team at Parkside Clinic where we tailor our care to your specific condition and tap into your body’s natural healing ability. Make an appointment, or if you have any questions, contact us.